Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Deterioration of volcanic tuff rocks from Armenia: constraints on salt crystallization and hydric expansion

  • Thematic Issue
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Volcanic tuffs are widely used in the Armenian architecture and represent building stones of the country’s most precious cultural heritage sites. For the very first time, extensive investigations regarding their chemical and mineralogical composition as well as the influence of petrophysical properties on their weathering behavior were realized. Different groups of tuff rocks could be identified, which differ greatly in their chroma, texture, their chemical and mineralogical composition, as well as their weathering behavior. At 30% porosity and 25% micropores, the tuff rocks show a sharp limit of changing water transport and retention behavior. Swellable clay minerals, the amount of micropores and the hygroscopic sorption value show a direct relation with the hydric expansion and proved to be reliable parameters for its estimation. Zeolite minerals proved to drastically increase the sorption values of the tuff rocks and are discussed as a cause for potential disjoining pressure. Furthermore, the application of the salt bursting test by European standard on these glass-rich volcanic tuff rocks is questioned, due to considerable different mineralogy and fabric in comparison to classic ash-rich tuffs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21
Fig. 22
Fig. 23
Fig. 24
Fig. 25
Fig. 26
Fig. 27
Fig. 28
Fig. 29
Fig. 30
Fig. 31
Fig. 32
Fig. 33
Fig. 34
Fig. 35
Fig. 36

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adamia S, Zakariadze G, Chkhotua T, Sadradze N, Tsereteli N, Chabukiani A, Gventsadze A (2011) Geology of the Caucasus. A review. Turk J Earth Sci 20(5):489–544

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen MB, Armstrong HA (2008) Arabia–Eurasia collision and the forcing of mid-Cenozoic global cooling. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 265 No(1–2):52–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen MB, Kheirkhah M, Neill I, Emami MH, McLeod CL (2013) Generation of arc and within-plate chemical signatures in collision zone magmatism. Quaternary lavas from Kurdistan Province, Iran. J Petrol 54 (5):887–911

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azizi H, Moinevaziri H (2009) Review of the tectonic setting of Cretaceous to Quaternary volcanism in northwestern Iran. J Geodyn 47 No(4):167–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benavente D, Cueto N, Martínez-Martínez J, Del Cura MG, Cañaveras JC (2007) The influence of petrophysical properties on the salt weathering of porous building rocks. Environ Geol 52(2):215–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christidis GE (2013) Assessment of industrial clays. In: Developments in clay science, vol. 5, Elsevier, pp. 425–449

  • Correns CW, Steinborn W (1939) Experimente zur Messung und Erklärung der sogenannten Kristallisationskraft. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie-Crystalline Materials 101 (1–6):117–133

    Google Scholar 

  • De la Calle C, Suquet H (1988) Vermiculite. Rev Miner Geochem 19 No(1):455–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhilawala S (1997) Armenia, cultures of the world. Marshall Cavendish, New York (reference edn)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon JB, Weed SB (1989) Minerals in soil environments. Soil Science Society of America Inc.(SSSA), Madison

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Doehne E (2002) Salt weathering: a selective review. Geological Society, London, vol 205, no1, pp 51–64 (special publications)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher RV (1961) Proposed classification of volcaniclastic sediments and rocks. Geol Soc Am Bull 72 (9):1409–1414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher RV (1966) Rocks composed of volcanic fragments and their classification. Earth Sci Rev 1 No(4):287–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flatt RJ (2002) Salt damage in porous materials: how high supersaturations are generated. J Cryst Growth 242(3–4): 435–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gasparyan MA, Safaryan YA (2014) The problem of preservation of national traditions in modern Armenian Architecture. Adv Mater Res 1020:702–706. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.1020.702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez IJ, Scherer GW (2004) Effect of swelling inhibitors on the swelling and stress relaxation of clay bearing stones. Environ Geol 46(3–4):364–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregg SJ, Sing KSW, Gregg SJ, Sing KS (1982) Adsorption, surface area and porosity, 2 edn. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirschwald J (1912) Die Prüfung der natürlichen Bausteine auf ihre Wetterbeständigkeit. W. Ernst & Sohn, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosono T, Uchida E, Suda C, Ueno A, Nakagawa T (2006) Salt weathering of sandstone at the Angkor monuments, Cambodia. Identification of the origins of salts using sulfur and strontium isotopes. J Archaeol Sci 33(11):1541–1551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karapetian SG, Jrbashian RT, Mnatsakanian AK (2001) Late collision rhyolitic volcanism in the north-eastern part of the Armenian Highland. J Volcanol Geoth Res 112(1):189–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaufhold S, Dohrmann R, Klinkenberg M, Siegesmund S, Ufer K (2010) N2-BET specific surface area of bentonites. J Coll Interface Sci 349(1):275–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keskin M (2007) Eastern Anatolia. A hotspot in a collision zone without a mantle plume. Geol soc Am 430:693 (special papers)

    Google Scholar 

  • Klopfer H (1985) Feuchte. In: Lutz P, Jenisch R, Klopfer H et al (eds) der Bauphysik. Teubner Verlag, Stuttgart

  • Kocher M (2005) Quelldruckmessungen und thermische Druckmessungen an ausgewählten Sandsteinen. Dissertation, München, 2005

  • Koizumi M (1953) The differential thermal analysis curves and the dehydration curves of zeolites. Miner J 1 No(1):36–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korkuna O, Leboda R, Skubiszewska-Zie J, Vrublevs’ka T, Gun’ko VM, Ryczkowski J (2006) Structural and physicochemical properties of natural zeolites: clinoptilolite and mordenite. Microporous Mesoporous Mater 87 No(3):243–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Bas MJ, Le Maitre RW, Streckeisen A, Zanettin B (1986) A chemical classification of volcanic rocks based on the total alkali–silica diagram. J Petrol 27 No(3):745–750

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Maitre RW, Streckeisen A, Zanettin B, Le BAS, Bonin MJ, B. and Bateman P (2005) Igneous rocks: a classification and glossary of terms: recommendations of the International Union of Geological Sciences Subcommission on the Systematics of Igneous Rocks. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • López-Arce P, Fort R, Gómez-Heras M, Pérez-Monserrat E, Varas-Muriel MJ (2011) Preservation strategies for avoidance of salt crystallisation in El Paular Monastery cloister, Madrid, Spain. Environ Earth Sci 63(7–8):1487–1509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López-Doncel R, Wedekind W, Leiser T, Molina-Maldonado S, Velasco-Sánchez A, Dohrmann R, Kral A, Wittenborn A, Aguillón-Robles A, Siegesmund S (2016) Salt bursting tests on volcanic tuff rocks from Mexico. Environ Earth Sci 75(3):212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lubelli B, van Hees RPJ, Nijland TG (2014) Salt crystallization damage: how realistic are existing ageing tests? In: De Clercq H (ed) SWBSS 2014 3th International Conference on Salt Weathering of Buildings and Stone Sculptures, Brussels, 14–16 October 2014, Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK/IRPA), pp 259–274

  • Lubelli B, Cnudde V, Diaz-Goncalves T, Franzoni E, van Hees RPJ, Ioannou I, Menendez B, Nunes C, Siedel H, Stefanidou M (2018) Towards a more effective and reliable salt crystallization test for porous building materials. State of the art. Mater Struct 51 No(2):55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meier L, Kahr G (1999) Determination of the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of clay minerals using the complexes of copper (II) ion with triethylenetetramine and tetraethylenepentamine. Clays Clay Miner 47:386–388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meliksetian K, Savov I, Connor C, Halama R, Jrbashyan R, Navasardyan G, Ghukasyan Y, Gevorgyan H, Manucharyan D, Ishizuka O (2014) Aragats stratovolcano in Armenia-volcano-stratigraphy and petrology. In: Geophysical Research Abstracts, vol 16, EGU2014-567-2

  • Neill I, Meliksetian K, Allen MB, Navarsardyan G, Karapetyan S (2013) Pliocene–Quaternary volcanic rocks of NW Armenia. Magmatism and lithospheric dynamics within an active orogenic plateau. In: Lithos, vol 180, pp 200–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2013.05.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padilla-Ceniceros R, Pacheco-Martínez J, López-Doncel RA, Orenday-Tapia EE (2017) Rock deterioration in the masonry walls of the Cathedral Basilica of Aguascalientes, Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Geológicas 34(2):138–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pötzl C, Dohrmann R, Siegesmund S (2018) Clay swelling mechanism in tuff stones: an example of the Hilbersdorf Tuff from Chemnitz, Germany. Environ Earth Sci 77(5):188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reichenbach HG, Beyer J (1995) Dehydration and rehydration of vermiculites. II: Phlogopitic CA-vermiculite. Clay Miner 30(4):273–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez-Navarro C, Doehne E (1999) Time-lapse video and ESEM: integrated tools for understanding processes in situ. Am Lab 31 (10):28–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Rolland Y (2017) Caucasus collisional history. Review of data from East Anatolia to West Iran. Gondwana Res 49:130–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rolland Y, Billo S, Corsini M, Sosson M, Galoyan G (2009) Blueschists of the Amassia-Stepanavan suture zone (Armenia). Linking Tethys subduction history from E-Turkey to W-Iran. Int J Earth Sci 98 No(3):533–550

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruedrich J, Siegesmund S (2007) Salt and ice crystallisation in porous sandstones. Environ Geol 52(2):225–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruedrich J, Bartelsen T, Dohrmann R, Siegesmund S (2011) Moisture expansion as a deterioration factor for sandstone used in buildings. Environ Earth Sci 63(7–8):1545–1564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scherer GW (1999) Crystallization in pores. Cem Concr Res 29(8):1347–1358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schuh H (1987) Physikalische Eigenschaften von Sandsteinen und ihren verwitterten Oberflächen, Münchner geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen. Reihe B, Allgemeine und angewandte Geologie, vol 6. F. Pfeil, München

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheth H, Meliksetian K, Gevorgyan H, Israyelyan A, Navasardyan G (2015) Intracanyon basalt lavas of the Debed River (northern Armenia), part of a Pliocene–Pleistocene continental flood basalt province in the South Caucasus. J Volcanol Geoth Res 295:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shirinyan CG (1962) Volcanic tuffs and tuff lavas of Armenia. Bulletin Volcanologique 24(1):171–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siedel H (2010) Historic building stones and flooding: changes of physical properties due to water saturation. J Perform Constr Facil 24(5):452–461

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siegesmund S, Dürrast H (2011) Physical and mechanical properties of rocks. In: Siegesmund S, Snethlage R (eds) Stone in architecture. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp 97–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Siegesmund S, Sousa L, Knell C (2018) Thermal expansion of granitoids. Environ Earth Sci 77(2):41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Snethlage R (1984) Steinkonservierung. Arbeitsheft Bayer. Landesamt f. Denkmalpflege, 22

  • Snethlage R, Wendler E, Klemm DD (1995) Tenside im Gesteinsschutz-bisherige Resultate mit einem neuen Konzept zur Erhaltung von Denkmälern aus Naturstein”, Denkmalpflege und Naturwissenschaft-Natursteinkonservierung I. Verlag Ernst & Sohn, Berlin, pp 127–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Sousa L, Siegesmund S, Wedekind W (2018) Salt weathering in granitoids. An overview on the controlling factors. Environ Earth Sci 77(13):502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steiger M, Charola AE, Sterflinger K (2011) Weathering and deterioration. In: Siegesmund S, Snethlage R (eds) Stone in architecture, Springer, pp 227–316

  • Steindlberger E (2004) Volcanic tuffs from Hesse (Germany) and their weathering behaviour. Environ Geol 46(3–4):378–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Stück H, Forgó LZ, Rüdrich J, Siegesmund S, Török A (2008) The behaviour of consolidated volcanic tuffs: weathering mechanisms under simulated laboratory conditions. Environ Geol 56(3–4):699–713

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stück H, Siegesmund S, Rüdrich J (2011) Weathering behaviour and construction suitability of dimension stones from the Drei Gleichen area (Thuringia, Germany). Environ Earth Sci 63(7–8):1763–1786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ufer K, Kleeberg R, Bergmann J, Dohrmann R (2012a) Rietveld refinement of disordered illite-smectite mixed-layer structures by a recursive algorithm. I: One-dimensional patterns. Clays Clay Miner 60(5):507–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ufer K, Kleeberg R, Bergmann J, Dohrmann R (2012b) Rietveld refinement of disordered illite-smectite mixed-layer structures by a recursive algorithm. II: Powder-pattern refinement and quantitative phase analysis. Clays Clay Miner 60(5):535–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Utudjian E (1968) Armenian Architecture: 4th to 17th Century, Editions A. Morance

  • Wangler T, Scherer GW (2008) Clay swelling mechanism in clay-bearing sandstones. Environ Geol 56(3–4):529–534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1380-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wedekind W, López-Doncel R, Dohrmann R, Kocher M, Siegesmund S (2013) Weathering of volcanic tuff rocks caused by moisture expansion. Environ Earth Sci 69(4):1203–1224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weimann MB (2001) Hygrische Eigenschaften von Polymerbeton im Vergleich mit porösen mineralischen Werkstoffen des Bauwesens. Dissertation, ETH Zurich, 2001

  • Weiss T, Siegesmund S, Kirchner Dt, Sippel J (2004) Insolation weathering and hygric dilatation: two competitive factors in stone degradation. Environ Geol 46(3–4):402–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellman HW, Wilson AT (1965) Salt weathering, a neglected geological erosive agent in coastal and arid environments. Nature 205 (4976):1097

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to M. Sitnikova, K. Ufer and N. Schleuning for their help with the mineral analyses, as well as L. Sousa for the constructive scientific discussion and excellent suggestions. We thank M. and V. Safaryan, Z. Madoyan, R. López-Doncel, M. Teipel, F. Malis and K. Nedkov for the help with the sampling and sample transfer to Germany. Constructive review by two anonymous reviewers is gratefully acknowledged. This work was supported by the Volkswagen Foundation (AZ93919) and the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (AZ20017/481).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geoscience Centre of the University Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany

    Christopher Pötzl, Siegfried Siegesmund, Jordy Michael Koning & Wanja Wedekind

  2. Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Hanover, Germany

    Reiner Dohrmann

Authors
  1. Christopher Pötzl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Siegfried Siegesmund
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Reiner Dohrmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jordy Michael Koning
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wanja Wedekind
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christopher Pötzl.

Additional information

This article is part of a Topical Collection in Environmental Earth Sciences on “Stone in the Architectural Heritage: from quarry to monuments—environment, exploitation, properties and durability”, guest edited by Siegfried Siegesmund, Luís Sousa, and Rubén Alfonso López-Doncel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pötzl, C., Siegesmund, S., Dohrmann, R. et al. Deterioration of volcanic tuff rocks from Armenia: constraints on salt crystallization and hydric expansion. Environ Earth Sci 77, 660 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7777-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-018-7777-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation